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Popped in on a Thursday night for dinner. Got in our drink orders and checked out the menu. Quite a variety of options! My wife settled in the Beet Salad with Shrimp and I got the Island Chicken sandwich. My sandwich was very good. Had a bit of a curry flavor (I'd have been ok with more, but probably plenty for most people!). It was a big burger, and the Pasta Salad was great. My wife's salad was good-the mixed greens leaned very heavily toward iceberg lettuce, but the rest I'd the salad's toppings were great. They took the tails off the shrimp before it arrived at the table; she likes that. Nice wine selection with slightly higher than expected pricing, but cocktail pricing was quite reasonable. Great service, and fresh, hot food-good dinner.
Vesta is an IRL mainstay-- having been around for over a decade. It's open Tuesday-Saturday. The menu isn't robust by any means and is largely Mediterranean-inspired serving up other bites that are Greek and Italian influence. It features appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, soup, entrees and pizza. We popped in on a Thursday and despite the Iowa High School State Volleyball tournament going on at Xtreme Arena, the place was empty! Our waitress was newer (admittedly) but very attentive and kind. We started with the Ahi Tuna Crisps-- yum. Four crisps came out so this didn't an appetizer for a larger group. I got the Vulcan shrimp wrap-- a staff favorite. As well as Vesta's signature soup: Iowa Bacon Corn Chowder. The wrap was light and bright-- the chowder had some seriously thick bacon in it. I was a happy camper. (The wraps are HUGE! And do not come with a side, FYI.) Overall-- parking is a non issue. Pricing seems on par, though I was sad to see at 5 on a Thursday there was no happy hour? As I mentioned staff was great. Also, during the summer Vesta boasts a pretty large patio. I've heard the time to go is Wednesdays for wine and pizza. While I didn't have pizza this time, their open kitchen boasts a huge oven and there is some sort of special. The IRL has a lot of rad spots to dine. Vesta is the closest option to the Hyatt and is great for large groups, as they have a private dining spot. I know I'll be back to try their Elk Ruben, so pop in!
Fantastic evening, fantastic meal. Just starting to "open up" again after the pandemic (mid 2022), we grabbed an outdoor table just a bit before sunset on a "just right" evening. Our well-behaved mini-aussie was welcome (we called first), with water served to her as well. My spouse and I split an elk reuben, a greek salad, and shared a beer tasting. Service was marvelous, especially given we were one of a very few outside, with a perfect amount of attention and conversation with the server. We were traveling the northern midwest and were asked by the server, "Why Coralville, IA?" - Answer by us: "We like quirky things, so had to see 'the future birthplace of James T Kirk'" (just a bit south of Coralville) That started a lovely conversation, a lovely meal, and a fantastic evening.
As usual, I had a wonderful meal and drink at Vesta! I had not been to Vesta for a while due to the pandemic and I was worried they might have lost their touch, but that was Not the case. I went try my go-to Vest Burger and it did not disappoint. I can tell it is freshly made (not a patty from the freezer) and practically melts in the mouth. The flavors of blue cheese, fried onions, and sauce on top are perfection. The fries were crisp and hot and I wish I had even more! Any drink you get there will be great, especially a cocktail. I got a Back Porch Lemonade to enjoy on the patio outside. The staff is great and always attentive. I find Vesta to be consistently good.
Classy place for lunch in a cute up and coming neighborhood. Stopped here on a cross country road trip and enjoyed the variety on the menu. Options for vegetarians too. Not super fast (table service and server) but friendly and competent service. Very clean.
First time in last night. I initially made the reservation because it appeared they had crab cakes on their menu which is what I wanted. I was disappointed but figured I'd give other options on the menu a try. We ordered the beef Wellington steak bites as our appetizer. They were good and quite different. After ours arrived at the table, I quickly saw that their beef Wellington steak bite appetizers were a highly popular item. For my main dish, I wanted to order the mahi mahi dish but the red bell pepper sauce deterred me only because I have an intolerance to them. Instead, I ordered the beef tenderloin with mushroom risotto, asparagus and Gruyère cheese. The steak was tender as expected. The Gruyère wax a bit overpowering for the dish where I felt like that's all I was eating- just in different textures. My partner ordered the 10oz sirloin which was cooked nicely and tasted good and came with a baked potato and asparagus. We were greeted by what I can only guess was the manager in a very welcoming manner and seated promptly. Our server seemed to be having bad day. I get it, we've all been there. Perhaps that contributed to her demeanor and lack of engagement. She was limping around a bit so I know how pain can affect a person. The restaurant filled quickly. Our reservation was for 6pm and by the time we were done with our first drink, the place was filled and bustling with people. They have a nice and large outdoor patio which looked inviting as well. Didn't have room for dessert after the large meal we had. I might consider trying Vesta out again. It was good, I just wasn't wowed.
We were staying at the Druy Inn and we wanted to grab a late lunch, and I found VESTA from other Yelpers. The menu is rather small. The place was empty! We started out with the corn chowder soup...very good. My husband had the chicken piccata.. their version is quite different than a traditional one. Theirs iserved in a tomato marinara sauce, on penne pasta. My husband said it was OK...not great. I had the Mahi Mahi. The piece of fish was a bit dry...but the quinoa was fantastic!! It had sweet potatoes and turnips and parsnips...which I don't usually eat, but it was very flavorful! Service was ok.. I think his name was Jake.
We made dinner reservations several hours in advance on a Saturday evening. Certainly advisable, but there appeared to be a fair amount of seating available when we arrived as well. We parked in the public lot at the end of the block, but my dad was luckier and got a metered street spot a little closer. We were seated next to the kitchen which was a little distracting, especially with some sort of compressed air tool running out of sight? Our server was friendly albeit a little absent, which he said was because we were "engaging ourselves" and he didn't want to interrupt... fine, but that left us on our own too long at times as he was also seating and serving other tables. As for the food, it was very mixed reviews. We started with charcuterie and chips and salsa for an appetizer. Charcuterie mix was yummy, but the "salsa" was marinara sauce. Entrees were similarly hit or miss. Matt and I really enjoyed our dishes - NY strip and pork loin - but my dad's piccata was a disaster and my nana wasn't wowed by the walleye. Craving a little something sweet, we finished up with the dessert trio. All three were decent, though the topping on the cobbler could've very well been instant oatmeal and got a thumbs down from the table. Overall not a poor experience, but underwhelming for the price. Sounds like this was a pretty typical experience of Vesta (my first time, but my family had been here many times) so don't think we would return again.
Wanted to try a place we both have never been to, so tried Vesta. I didn't pay much attention to the inside of the restaurant because we went straight to the patio. It's large, covered, and the view isn't bad. I was a little confused on the menu - there doesn't seem to be a real theme besides a little bit of everything. Chips and salsa, Mediterranean dishes, pork spring rolls, pizza, Elk Rueben - all over the place. The waiter was great at letting us know popular dishes and what he liked. I went with the Mushroom Lover Pizza and he went with the Chicken Picatta. We both really enjoyed the meals. I think if the mushrooms would have been sliced instead of whole the pizza would have been easier to eat. It was on a thin crispy crust. The Chicken Picatta was different than I've had before. The sauce was more tomato based and had penne pasta and not the sting flavors or garlic, lemon, and capers. He said it was good though. It was not very busy for a Thursday evening based on other patios in the area. Unsure if I'll try this place again, but the food didn't disappoint.
The food was great and service was quick! I had won a gift card to go Vesta over a year ago and finally used it today. I wish I lived closer so I could come here more often! Great restaurant! I ordered off their special menu for the weekend and they gave us a free dessert for being the first customer to order a special!
8 months ago
Best Dinner spot in Coralville! Great atmosphere and service. Michelle is an amazing bartender that makes great cocktails. Every dish we had was phenomenal. I would highly recommend the teriyaki salmon and fat kids plate. If you are looking for a good quality dinner, stop by vesta and you won't be disappointed. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Popped in on a Thursday night for dinner. Got in our drink orders and checked out the menu. Quite a variety of options! My wife settled in the Beet Salad with Shrimp and I got the Island Chicken sandwich. My sandwich was very good. Had a bit of a curry flavor (I'd have been ok with more, but probably plenty for most people!). It was a big burger, and the Pasta Salad was great. My wife's salad was good-the mixed greens leaned very heavily toward iceberg lettuce, but the rest I'd the salad's toppings were great. They took the tails off the shrimp before it arrived at the table; she likes that. Nice wine selection with slightly higher than expected pricing, but cocktail pricing was quite reasonable. Great service, and fresh, hot food-good dinner. read more
Vesta is an IRL mainstay-- having been around for over a decade. It's open Tuesday-Saturday. The menu isn't robust by any means and is largely Mediterranean-inspired serving up other bites that are Greek and Italian influence. It features appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, soup, entrees and pizza. We popped in on a Thursday and despite the Iowa High School State Volleyball tournament going on at Xtreme Arena, the place was empty! Our waitress was newer (admittedly) but very attentive and kind. We started with the Ahi Tuna Crisps-- yum. Four crisps came out so this didn't an appetizer for a larger group. I got the Vulcan shrimp wrap-- a staff favorite. As well as Vesta's signature soup: Iowa Bacon Corn Chowder. The wrap was light and bright-- the chowder had some seriously thick bacon in it. I was a happy camper. (The wraps are HUGE! And do not come with a side, FYI.) Overall-- parking is a non issue. Pricing seems on par, though I was sad to see at 5 on a Thursday there was no happy hour? As I mentioned staff was great. Also, during the summer Vesta boasts a pretty large patio. I've heard the time to go is Wednesdays for wine and pizza. While I didn't have pizza this time, their open kitchen boasts a huge oven and there is some sort of special. The IRL has a lot of rad spots to dine. Vesta is the closest option to the Hyatt and is great for large groups, as they have a private dining spot. I know I'll be back to try their Elk Ruben, so pop in! read more
Fantastic evening, fantastic meal. Just starting to "open up" again after the pandemic (mid 2022), we grabbed an outdoor table just a bit before sunset on a "just right" evening. Our well-behaved mini-aussie was welcome (we called first), with water served to her as well. My spouse and I split an elk reuben, a greek salad, and shared a beer tasting. Service was marvelous, especially given we were one of a very few outside, with a perfect amount of attention and conversation with the server. We were traveling the northern midwest and were asked by the server, "Why Coralville, IA?" - Answer by us: "We like quirky things, so had to see 'the future birthplace of James T Kirk'" (just a bit south of Coralville) That started a lovely conversation, a lovely meal, and a fantastic evening. read more
As usual, I had a wonderful meal and drink at Vesta! I had not been to Vesta for a while due to the pandemic and I was worried they might have lost their touch, but that was Not the case. I went try my go-to Vest Burger and it did not disappoint. I can tell it is freshly made (not a patty from the freezer) and practically melts in the mouth. The flavors of blue cheese, fried onions, and sauce on top are perfection. The fries were crisp and hot and I wish I had even more! Any drink you get there will be great, especially a cocktail. I got a Back Porch Lemonade to enjoy on the patio outside. The staff is great and always attentive. I find Vesta to be consistently good. read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Classy place for lunch in a cute up and coming neighborhood. Stopped here on a cross country road trip and enjoyed the variety on the menu. Options for vegetarians too. Not super fast (table service and server) but friendly and competent service. Very clean. read more
2 years ago
First time in last night. I initially made the reservation because it appeared they had crab cakes on their menu which is what I wanted. I was disappointed but figured I'd give other options on the menu a try. We ordered the beef Wellington steak bites as our appetizer. They were good and quite different. After ours arrived at the table, I quickly saw that their beef Wellington steak bite appetizers were a highly popular item. For my main dish, I wanted to order the mahi mahi dish but the red bell pepper sauce deterred me only because I have an intolerance to them. Instead, I ordered the beef tenderloin with mushroom risotto, asparagus and Gruyère cheese. The steak was tender as expected. The Gruyère wax a bit overpowering for the dish where I felt like that's all I was eating- just in different textures. My partner ordered the 10oz sirloin which was cooked nicely and tasted good and came with a baked potato and asparagus. We were greeted by what I can only guess was the manager in a very welcoming manner and seated promptly. Our server seemed to be having bad day. I get it, we've all been there. Perhaps that contributed to her demeanor and lack of engagement. She was limping around a bit so I know how pain can affect a person. The restaurant filled quickly. Our reservation was for 6pm and by the time we were done with our first drink, the place was filled and bustling with people. They have a nice and large outdoor patio which looked inviting as well. Didn't have room for dessert after the large meal we had. I might consider trying Vesta out again. It was good, I just wasn't wowed. read more
3 years ago
We were staying at the Druy Inn and we wanted to grab a late lunch, and I found VESTA from other Yelpers. The menu is rather small. The place was empty! We started out with the corn chowder soup...very good. My husband had the chicken piccata.. their version is quite different than a traditional one. Theirs iserved in a tomato marinara sauce, on penne pasta. My husband said it was OK...not great. I had the Mahi Mahi. The piece of fish was a bit dry...but the quinoa was fantastic!! It had sweet potatoes and turnips and parsnips...which I don't usually eat, but it was very flavorful! Service was ok.. I think his name was Jake. read more
We made dinner reservations several hours in advance on a Saturday evening. Certainly advisable, but there appeared to be a fair amount of seating available when we arrived as well. We parked in the public lot at the end of the block, but my dad was luckier and got a metered street spot a little closer. We were seated next to the kitchen which was a little distracting, especially with some sort of compressed air tool running out of sight? Our server was friendly albeit a little absent, which he said was because we were "engaging ourselves" and he didn't want to interrupt... fine, but that left us on our own too long at times as he was also seating and serving other tables. As for the food, it was very mixed reviews. We started with charcuterie and chips and salsa for an appetizer. Charcuterie mix was yummy, but the "salsa" was marinara sauce. Entrees were similarly hit or miss. Matt and I really enjoyed our dishes - NY strip and pork loin - but my dad's piccata was a disaster and my nana wasn't wowed by the walleye. Craving a little something sweet, we finished up with the dessert trio. All three were decent, though the topping on the cobbler could've very well been instant oatmeal and got a thumbs down from the table. Overall not a poor experience, but underwhelming for the price. Sounds like this was a pretty typical experience of Vesta (my first time, but my family had been here many times) so don't think we would return again. read more
Wanted to try a place we both have never been to, so tried Vesta. I didn't pay much attention to the inside of the restaurant because we went straight to the patio. It's large, covered, and the view isn't bad. I was a little confused on the menu - there doesn't seem to be a real theme besides a little bit of everything. Chips and salsa, Mediterranean dishes, pork spring rolls, pizza, Elk Rueben - all over the place. The waiter was great at letting us know popular dishes and what he liked. I went with the Mushroom Lover Pizza and he went with the Chicken Picatta. We both really enjoyed the meals. I think if the mushrooms would have been sliced instead of whole the pizza would have been easier to eat. It was on a thin crispy crust. The Chicken Picatta was different than I've had before. The sauce was more tomato based and had penne pasta and not the sting flavors or garlic, lemon, and capers. He said it was good though. It was not very busy for a Thursday evening based on other patios in the area. Unsure if I'll try this place again, but the food didn't disappoint. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
The food was great and service was quick! I had won a gift card to go Vesta over a year ago and finally used it today. I wish I lived closer so I could come here more often! Great restaurant! I ordered off their special menu for the weekend and they gave us a free dessert for being the first customer to order a special! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I don't feel moved to give many places reviews but I had a great meal here. I was on the fence about ordering an entree because I was dining alone and thought it might be too extravagant but now I'm glad I pampered myself a little bit. The beef tenderloin was perfectly prepared. Even the asparagus was crisp tender. It is easier to ruin a good cut of meat then to treat it perfectly but this chef knows how to do things right. The truffle risotto was a bit on the salty side but I could have had a glass of wine to remedy that. I have been in Iowa nearly a week and this was a stand out meal. I hope I have enough time to come back and sample more of their menu. The service was also outstanding. They could have ignored me but I got the same excellent service as any larger party. Thank you Vesta! read more
4 years ago
This is a very nice and pretty new venue in the coralville area. Easy access off of interstate 80. Large, bright and airy inside with a hipster vibe. The menu is New American with a Mediterranean flair. Some of the dishes are very spicy and there's no indication of that on the menu so be sure to ask your server if you are worried about heat in the food. We were a party of five and service was excellent, and everyone enjoyed their food selections. Prices are a little steep, $15 range for burgers and high twenties for most entrees. As always my rating system is three stars for restaurants to which I would return, four stars for restaurants at which I would like to be a regular, and five stars for those to which I would drive out of my way. read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
I was very excited to try out Vesta as I loved the variety of the menu online. Walking in the outside looks very modern, but then inside seemed a little aged. The menu was fabulous - so me good sounding entrees. We tried their spicy shrimp appetizer (very very good). For my entree I went with the salmon BLT - salmon was cooked perfectly and topped with crispy bacon. My only suggestion is serving on a ciabatta roll as the sourdough bread was flimsy and became soggy. My BLT was served with a hearty serving of pasta salad - also flavorful! The hubs had the chicken piccata and enjoyed it as well - just felt the chicken portion could have been a little bigger. Great dinner with unique options! read more
2 years ago
It's a very good place to just hang out at the bar. They have high top table options along with regular tables. Few of the amazing cocktail options makes up for the location. The place is very close to University of Iowa downtown and next to the Coralville Mariott. Their black bean and cumin soup is one of a kind. The restaurant is kinda pricy considering the location. However, the food options are great. read more
We came to vesta on a sunny spring evening and it did not disappoint! The patio has some serious space and was an incredible place to sit for a few hours, enjoy some great food and a couple drinks. To begin, the appetizers were excellent! Great selection and a chef who's thinking outside the box! We enjoyed the beef wellington bites and hummus trio. The wellington bites may be my new favorite appetizer! The hummus trio included one that contained truffle oil and seriously, I would bathe in this stuff if given the chance. It was straight up awesome. For dinner we had the buffalo chicken pizza, the portobello burger, the vesta burger and the island chicken burger between four of us and all were worth getting again. The pizzas here aren't flatbreads as most in the area have, but are true thin crust with some delicious baked in! The buffalo chicken had some zing and was solid. The vesta burger was the most impressive - topped with some legit onion straws that I had to steal more than once. Portobello burger was good, not great, little heavy on the goat cheese, but worth trying and the chicken was excellent. The dessert came next and there was some awesome going on. My wife and I had the huckleberry french toast with imperial stout ice cream - Fact - new flavors and great flavors! The french toast was sweet with some crunch and the stout ice cream was deep and a little bitter - it worked great with each other! Friends at the red velvet cake and in addition to a discussion about what "red velvet" flavor is, the cake was really good. Solid beer list with good draft choices and enough bottles to keep you guessing! Wine list is decent. The mixed drinks and specials were very nice - My wife had something we affectionately termed the "green mamba" - effectively white sangria with some lemon and lime. They're still figuring out that name, but whatever they call it - it's a great summer drink! Overall, this is a spot we'll be back to and somewhere we hope catches on. The bar was pretty hopin' as we were leaving and was a really nice space for meeting up. The service was great, the patio was FANTASTIC and the ambiance both inside and out are very nice. The water fountain nearby provides a perfect amount of back ground noise for the occasion and the lighting is excellent. Add a fire pit outside and a few more beers to choose from and this place becomes our go-to spot! Check this place out on a nice night with friends or your sweetie - you won't be disappointed. read more
Really wanted the elk Ruben. They were out of it. Settled with the lamb burger and fries. Trendy sort of place. Well air conditioned. Refreshing iced H2o. Toe pull bathroom door opener. Brilliant. Great service. Nice choices on the menu. Locals say it's "different" food, but it seemed normal to me. Maybe the choices on the menu are different for the people of Iowa. The kitchen staff seemed to be chatting a lot, which I believe affected the speed of the order. My burger was on the heat lamp counter for quite a while before it was brought to me. Overall a nice business. I would visit again. You should try it. You'll be glad you did. read more
Business owner information
Brian F.
Russ,…
3 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
9 years ago
This place is awesome! Just finished the seafood avocado pasta with a glass of Malbec. Super tasty, delicious, fabulous! I've now tried about 10 places in Iowa City and this is the top. read more
Really enjoyed the food here at Vesta and would definitely come back again to try other things. I ordered the Ribeye steak sandwich with a side of Iowa Bacon Corn Chowder soup. The ribeye steak was delicious (though I wish it were bigger) and had kale and asparagus in it which matched really well. They used a horseradish aioli in it as well which topped it off. The only thing I've had really similar to this around the Coralville area is the prime rib sandwich for lunch at Longhorn's. To me, they are pretty similar (both having a horseradish sauce with it), but the ribeye steak at Vesta's wasn't as soft and juicy as the prime rib at Longhorns. Yes, they are different cuts, but I still wish the ribeye steak at Vesta was a little more tender. The Iowa Bacon Corn Chowder soup was unique, but a little too sweet for my taste. I'd probably try the Tomato Bisque soup next time. read more
Business owner information
Brian F.
Connie,…
8 years ago
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